And how does that differ from slipping a bill to the maitre de to get a better table --- all he does is plug you into a table? People do that all the time, or so they claim.

I wouldn't tip a maitre'd either. Seems mafiaesque and a little ostentatious.

I think it is part of the industry.
To tip the front desk person post
upgrade-it is the smart thing to do for you and he. It's a simple negotiation with courtesy. No "slapping palms here-
NEVER.

and negotiation is ALWAYS win-win!
Or IMHO ther's been no negotiation.

Here another example: we are considering a purchase, we'll say it's
$XXX in the store-our favorite store
for sporting goods. Our fave assitant
mgr.always assists us when we arrive in our work-out gear to test machines or swing clubs. As he can tell we are zeoring in on an elliptical trainer
in a certain price range-he does his best to show us all the features
and none of this-"well for $400 here's
what you'd get"-he let's US ask the question. Very Smart. Now it is OUR choice to spend more or put it in the bank. The offer is there, just like an upgrade.

What's the difference? It's a considered negotian between 2 persons.
A tip-for the room as quaranteed-yes
and quietly. For Kevin when he delivers
the machine over a few flights of stairs
and assembles it on the spot-you betcha!

Where's the quilt?

R5

I mean "guilt" Ha-ha
Hopefully the quilt is in the room..
R5

I know I'm being obtuse, but I don't understand what the negotiation is in the exercise equipment example.

Are you channeling?

This thread has made me rethink this issue. I don't think I have ever asked for a room upgrade for view or size or whatever, except one time when I was near an elevator and it was too noisy.

One reason, is that I think I am really so unpicky that if it is CLEAN and I am paying the price I want to pay- I really don't expect to get something "extra." And room size or view isn't that important to me. I'm out of the room except for sleeping- much of the time.

But I am very courteous to people who work with the public, and I don't think many people are- because I have been upgraded, especially on return visits, without asking. One B&B I love, and do not get to often, has actually put me in a room that is twice what I'd paid for and with both other kinds vacant.

Several times, I have asked for an extended day at the rate I had on Priceline or Hotwire for the day before, and have been told no. One time in Sarasota, they wanted $295 for one day, for the same room I paid $55 per day for the previous three days. They were half empty and still would not take any number under $295. I changed hotels. But it didn't hurt to ask.

Yet, it wasn't that easy for me to ask- because it comes from a context that I would be considered "special." Do that many people really ask for an upgrade every time? My father would pale at this, as in his sense, that would make you not cheap as much as greviously pushy. But pushy is the way to be, I guess, if you "want" what you "want". It would turn me off so much if I were on the other end, that I doubt I would give many "askers" an upgrade- very much like kc. Manners and/or morality in everyday business has certainly reached a malaise- if this is really a norm- that's for sure. But then again, I've never bribed a "seater" either.

And there is a special place in hell for asking for an upgrade after getting a discount rate on Priceline. That's completely and utterly unacceptable.

So there. <g>

The negotiaon is you asking for *something* other than what is in front of you.
The offer is something better at a cost-
a better room, a better elliptical
a jacuzzi tub in the room-whatever.

Now it's up to you to
a)accept the cost involved with upgrade
B)decline the upgrade
c) offer a lower price on the upgrade
or a lesser upgrade and on and on.

Sorry obx, I ommitted the part where we asked, he answered, we delcined-
does that make sense?

I saying that I feel many, many transactions, upgrade, whatever negotiable in many ,many scenarios.

R5

travelinandgogolfin
message: I dont think I could just come right out and ask for an upgrade but I ask for it in a different way. When checking in I put 20 dollars around my credit card and ask the clerk for a really nice room. I figure even if its a room at the price we paid for many views are better then others. I did this at the aladin and we received an upgrade and a beautiful room.Its vegas and its a bit of a gamble to do so but you could end up really pleased with the results. I also tip the maid each day and leave her a little note along with any small requests I may have. Usually she writes a small note in return and thanks me.
Mary

"When checking in I put 20 dollars around my credit card and ask the clerk for a really nice room."

I am floored that people actually do this. Maybe I am naive, but I only though this happened in bad movies.

Thanks for the responses. Some very interesting replys. Let me see if I can sum this up.

1. Some people always ask for an upgrade. They feel it's part of the game and the desk clerk is already expecting it. If you're polite, no harm. On the other end of the transaction, you'd better hope the desk clerk is in a good mood.

2. Some people never (or hardly) ask for an upgrade. Seen as cheap and tacky, even immoral in some sense.

3. Those who do get an upgrade are split as to whether or not you tip the clerk. Some feel it's proper. Others feel it's tacky.

For me, I'll always ask politely for an upgrade, but will always make sure the room I originally book is fine (in case I don't get the upgrade).

I do think it's rather tacky to slip the clerk a 20, even as a thank you for getting an upgrade. Definitely tacky to do it prior to asking.

But with the way things are going, I'm sure there will be a "tip jar" on the check in desk soon. :)

I worked front desk for 3 hotels, one of which was a very large upscale chain with over 400 rooms. If the rooms were available I would upgrade people to nicer rooms without them even asking if I thought they were especially polite or had a unique circumstance. One time I upgraded a woman to a very large room because she was traveling with her kids and her car broke down, someone else had to pick her up and drive her to the hotel. I think your luck entirely depends on who check's you in (not everyone is that caring) and obviously if they have the ability to upgrade you without screwing up anyone else's confirmed reservations for that room type.

My husband is the type of person that will always ask for free stuff and you know what, a lot of the time it works because if you are friendly about it people do things for you just because they like you. I don't think you can hurt anything or feel cheap by asking. All they can do is say no and you'll probably never see them again or you might get lucky and have an even better stay. As for slipping people money, about the only times I was ever tipped was for taking things to people's rooms (extra blankets, pillows,etc...) and personally I never expected a tip for giving someone a better room. You should never feel the need to tip someone $20 (which is a pretty generous tip for a front desk person) unless you really liked them and felt they really made your stay special.

"When checking in I put 20 dollars around my credit card and ask the clerk for a really nice room."

marykc, you really do this?

To me, that takes more guts than just asking for the upgrade straight out.

I just read the editor's letter in the October 2004 edition of Budget Travel (has Tahiti on the cover) and he talks about how at a travel-industry dinner a woman in the sales department of an upscale business hotel in NYC commented that her hotel treats customers who book through Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, etc. worse than other guests. " 'If someone needs to be downgraded, we always go for the Expedia guest.' she said -- with pride."

Not sure, but the article could be at Budget Travel's website: www.budgettravel.msnbc.com.

Martha, I have heard some of that stuff too. I never treated (or to my knowledge did any of the people I worked with) guests any differently just because they booked through discount websites but I can see why hotels would possibly do that and it makes sense. About 75% of our rooms were nearly identical and the remaining were more expensive for a reason. If I paid a cheaper rate and the hotel is completely booked I would expect as a consumer to get the least expensive room type. However, they should never treat a guest as less important than anyone else when it comes to customer service.

Martha, I know many people don't believe that about "budget" booked people getting "downgraded", but my only experience with Priceline I got what the front desk admitted was not a great room and told me it was because it was only for one night and because I had booked on Priceline. I know some will deny it, but let's be honest here. If someone is going to get the worst room, who do you think it's more likely to be -- the person who booked direct at full price, or the person who booked through a discounter at a bargain rate? Anyone who says it's the first choice is kidding themselves. If there are plenty of good rooms, then the budget person may get one of those, but I'm talking about who is going to get the "bad" rooms.

Well, the problem, I think, is that a customer might not give their repeat business to the hotel. Who knows how much that repeat business could be worth in the future? If that customer is planning a future business event for a large number of potential guests or, say, a large wedding, whatever, it is the hotel that could lose out.

Might be better to just not offer the cheap prices.

:-)

"When checking in I put 20 dollars around my credit card and ask the clerk for a really nice room."

I would have handed back the $20 with a comment that it must have stuck to the card ... then no upgrade for you! I get offended that people think they can buy my loyalty to my employer for what amounts to less than the price of a meal. Friendly, likable people are most likely to get an upgrade, if possible. Repeat guests - yes. Pushy people - no. And I've got to know with 100% certainty that the upgrade is not going to hurt revenue or push us too close to an overbook situation. A short stay is more likely to get an upgrade than a long stay. You want to give me a tip afterwards? Bring back some donuts or a pizza to share with co-workers. Or just ASK if you could get me something .. it really is the thought that counts. Like lenleigh, if I took towels, a crib, or something to the room, I gladly accepted a tip for that (and said "Thank you") but I don't expect tips and never accept bribes.

(Although one time someone who didn't want to show ID asked me, "Just how much will it cost for you to forget about my identification?" "$15,000", my reply, as that was my annual wages at the time. He questioned my reply, and I told him that should I get fired I wanted some cushion while I hunted a new job.)

I don't understand what is condescending about tipping a front desk clerk. I am not talking about slipping a bill during the check in process, but tiping someone you feel has gone out of their way or done something they really didn't have to do which is going to make a big difference in your stay (re my example of tipping the clerk who went out of her way to get me away from that blasted ice machine so I could sleep- it was apparent that the party line was "no other rooms" and she got out of that and got me into one.) I have never had a desk clerk say, "I can't accept that" or act insulted. I don't think they just plug you into a room. Desk clerks have alot of choices to make and usually have options.
I'm not saying it is neccesary to do that, it is optional. Just like the desk clerk's choices are optional. If it is a thank you, what is condescending about it? I also tip the person who brings me the extra ice or the bottle opener, or whatever else I call down for. Is that condescending? I suppose they are just doing their job too if you want to look at it that way. They've provided me something extra that I've asked for.

I just read that article last night. We have used Expedia once, up in Canada, and our room and the service were stellar. But that was our only time using such a service so I have no comparison.

Lenleigh--That mom with the kids could have been me! Honestly, about 5 years ago that happened to me and I had the nicest person at the hotel, and it was a lifesaver. I still tell that story too:)